minimum age of referee?

[Slim]

My 10 yr old was asked to direct some bouts of the older kids (14+) last night, sort of as a joke..they chuckled when they asked him and I think they expected him to run away. He is usually very quiet and reserved. Well, he didnt run. The experienced fencers seemed amazed at the things he was able to follow and his calls were dead on most of the time. I was amazed that he refused to back down when a couple of frustrated people questioned a few of his calls (he issued a yellow card for covering after a warning) Heh..pretty funny watching a 14yr old get intellectually thrashed by a 10 yr old. He had a lot of fun and wants to take the referee exam. My question is: what is the process to become a certified ref, and is there a mimimum age? I'd just like him to be able to help at some of the local events. Thanks.

[VERITAS]

My question is: what is the process to become a certified ref, and is there a mimimum age?

I would like to know as well. Fencing would greatly benefit from more good referees, regardless of age. Anyone?
(Great story by the way. More power to 10-yr-olds )

-charley

[peet]

The process of becoming a rated referee is documented on the Fencing Officials Commission website here, but it's basically:

1) Take the referee seminar from an FOC instructor.
2) Take the written exam(s). There is one general test, and one for each weapon
3) Take a practical exam, which consists of refereeing some fencing in front of an FOC examiner.

With a bunch of studying the rules and practicing ref'ing in between all those...

And no, as far as i know, there's no official minimum age for a ref.

HTH,
-p

[JackSparrow]

Plus it helps if they're tall enough to see over their clipboard.

[cowpaste]

I know a 12 year old that is rated an 8 in foil and epee. He'll even see it when you sneak it remises after your initial attack misses. Much better director than me even.

[VERITAS]

So...how hard is it to get certified as a ref?
is it affordable?
Is it available in WI?
I did look at the website, but it wasn't particularly detailed about the training process, etc.

-charley

[edew]

Adam (Aaron?) Cheris was a rated foil referee many years ago. He looked around 12 or so.

There were several very young looking saber referees a couple of years back. They were from the New York area.

[oiuyt]

So...how hard is it to get certified as a ref?
is it affordable?
Is it available in WI?
I did look at the website, but it wasn't particularly detailed about the training process, etc.

-charley

If you know what you're doing it isn't hard. In many parts of the country (and WI is likely to be one of them) it can be a chore to find a clinic to take (and, as that's step 1 (other than knowing the rules and what you're doing, which is frequently a self-study task and, in any case, is rarely systemitized), that hurdle can, and does, slow a great number of people down) it can be hard to find such a clinic. The FOC site lists everyone certified to teach the clinic and what divisions they are listed as being from (not 100% accurate I believe, but close). The USFA also offers the clinic in 2 parts twice during summer nationals (so 4 total evenings, 2 of which one would need to attend), once at the beginning, and once at the end of the week. I believe the SN clinics are free, the generally accepted charge for clinics otherwise is $50, although I've seen a wide range of prices from free to $75 (and maybe $100).

The testing should be freely available at any sectional event, I believe the RYC's, but certainly the SYC's, and any NAC. There is also a list of everyone authorized as a tester on the FOC site. I have seen charges advertized for the testing in conjunction with some clinics.

Really what you need to do is get hooked up with someone such as a clinic giver and ask questions which will more directly apply to your situation than what any general statement can cover. If you attend NACs/SN it'll be fairly easy to get information. If you never leave WI it could well be difficult. It also won't help you at all to get certified (as opposed to becoming a quality ref, which I feel would help people regardless of whether or not they extensively use the skill).

-B :)

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!


It is not fencing, but I have seen a 12-year oldish ref in an indoor bandy game, reffing 20+ year olds. Did it well too - saw all all the infractions, and immediately punished a player who tried to thrash-talk back a verdict going against him. The young ref did not even wait for the thrash-talker to finish his tirade, or bother to respond - directly gave a 2-minute penalty, complete with the misconduct sign. The entire audience hoorayed, and gave a big laugh, followed by applause while the miscreant walked off the the penalty bench. Note: Indoor bandy has a 2-ref system, and the other ref was of senior age.


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

PS: A few years ago, I was playing Indoor bandy at an intra-town level. There were only two sets of refs for the entire series (8 teams, each team meeting all others twice) and one of the refs had a delvelopmentally delayed relative hanging on all the time, who did the start/stop of clock, noting goal shooters, etc simple tasks. At the last game of ours for the season, the series standing was such that no matter what the outcome of the match, the placement of both us and the other team was fixed, so it did not matter for anything else than bragging rights. Anyway, the DD guy asked the ref if he could be ref for this single game, and this was approved by the ref and both captains. The match went well, and hid did not miss anything of importance, actually out-reffing some other refs that I have played under. He was soo happy afterwards to have been given this huge responsibility, and pulled it off.

[Inquartata]

I could probably do a websearch, but it's easier just to ask: what's "bandy"?

[Zilverzmurfen]

I could probably do a websearch, but it's easier just to ask: what's "bandy"?

Ok, let me help you out:

This is Bandy:

• The Bandy Webring.
• History of Bandy.

This is Indoor Bandy (more often called Floorhockey or Indoor Hockey, as in opposition of Ice Hockey or Field Hockey):

• International Floorhockey Federation.

[fluidfencer]

We have at least one rated referee age 12, and several not much older. Most are certainly better than I am, primarily because they have more exposure and experience at high level tournaments, and they have more practice during classes. I don't get to fence nearly often enough *sigh*

[Inquartata]

Ok, let me help you out:

This is Bandy:

Ah, field hockey; thanks!

Good to know that Europe is filled with 'preppies'.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Ah, field hockey; thanks!

Good to know that Europe is filled with 'preppies'.

Is it? And what is it ['preppies']?

(And Bandy is not the same as Field Hockey! Or did I just misunderstand you?)

[Inquartata]

Is it? And what is it ['preppies']?

(And Bandy is not the same as Field Hockey! Or did I just misunderstand you?)

I stand corrected.

"Preppie" is word for a person who went to a private preparatory or high school, and has come to describe the styles, attitudes, mannerisms and activities favored by them or their imitators. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preppy And field hockey is quite the preppy sport.

But since bandy isn't the same thing, the wry remark has misfired. Oh, well.